McDonald's — Restaurant in Rathdrum

One thing you can count on, McDonald's is always the same. Or is it? Somehow the McD's in Rathdrum ID did not get the memo. Decided to order in store because I wanted a sugar free, caffeine free drink - carbonated water - which appears to be beyond the comprehension of McD's employees. Walk in and my friendly counter person is a machine that you need Google Maps to navigate. I finally get my order in at 12:55 and wait. Don't forget, there is nobody stationed at the front counter. Finally at 1:20 I get my order, no drink. I get offered a cup. "So where is my Dasani water?" Disappears then returns. "I have to go and get one from the back" Long wait and then he returns, "Sorry, I don't have any". I generously get offered a large water. "I paid 49c plus tax for that Dasani" Blank look. "I can give you another small water, or your mony back." When he half heartedly goes for the cash drawer but punches nothing in, just stares at me I get visions of filling out forms in triplicate and a bureaucratic nightmare. I'm tired of McD's I stare back and he hands me a cup. Itake it and don't surrender to the temptation to throw the water and food at the manager playing with his phone with his back to us. Get to the car with the food and hand my wife her meal. Fries are not hot. How long did they sit before I got them? We both hate cold fries. Go for the sandwich. My De Luxe .Crispy Chicken. I guess in McDonald speak Deluxe means stuck in a microwave until all semblance of moisture has been removed leaving a rubbery substance that would do better retreading a car tire. My poodle that will swallow anything without chewing thought I had given him a chewy when I could no longer stand attemting to eat this thing. Back to the water. How come Burger King, Taco Time and a host of others understand that some people prefer their drinks to have the carbonation but hold the phosphoric acid please? Some even have Caffeine Free diet drinks available. What is the deal...

I made a mobile order on Tuesday. I arrived at the restaurant, entered my parking info, and waited 20 minutes. I went to the drive thru to check on the status of my order. They informed me my order was cancelled, and I would need to place another order to receive my food. I went inside to place another order, and asked for proof that my order was cancelled. They could provide no proof, and told me the reason it was cancelled was that I had not arrived to pick up the order within an hour of placing the mobile order. I ordered the food at 11:15am, received an email receipt at 11:23am, and arrived to pick it up at 11:33am. The time stamp on the receipt for the second order I placed is 12pm. So, I definitely arrived within an hour. I called customer service to ask for proof of cancellation. They said there was no cancellation, and they saw a double charge. They asked the owner/operator to give me a call. When she called, she told me her manager on duty was correct, but still could provide no proof of a cancelled order. She assured me the charge would never go from pending to an actual charge. Unsurprisingly, I never received the cancellation email I was promised would show up, and the double charge hit my bank account within 24 hours. It then took several more phone calls over 3 days to the store directly and to customer service. All promising me the general manager would call me back and issue the refund. I never received a call. I finally received an email saying an refund has been issued, and a generic form "apology". So much trouble for what was supposed to be a treat lunch...

I arrived at this establishment at around 9pm. The hunger was ravenous. I ordered two top tier items. Two value menu items. The delectable McDouble, and the succulent McChicken. I knew i was in for a surprise as i was tantalized with a wait time. It turns out the wait was worth it. I took a bite of the McChicken. Rapture. “My oh my this sandwich is particularly bussin’ bussin’ no cap!” i exclaimed excitedly. The chicken was fresh from the fryer, exploding my olfactorys into a crescendo of pure bliss. The well portioned application of mayonnaise cascaded down from the sides like the majestic falls of Niagara. I thought to myself, “Why theres no way the McDouble can match this delectable delight.” Boy was i wrong. The beef was clearly only in the warmer for a short period. The resonant heat of the broiler still lingered. The buns, so expertly smashed down in that Iconic Mcdonalds burger fashion cradled my sandwich like a swaddled new born. Safe and secure, with a symmetrical alignment that would make Michelangelo himself blush. One would wonder if perhaps this sandwich was made to revere the very ordered nature of God himself. Fractals of sacred geometry burst through my imagination as i observed the near perfect symmetry of my burger.

The moment was so profound; i questioned whether or not my existence was already in heaven. That perhaps we could all live in the kingdom of heaven, if only we all aspired to be, Rathdrum McDonalds 10Pm Saturday crew....